A British same-sex couple, Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson, today were denied
legal recognition of their Canadian marriage in the first such case to be brought in the
UK. They have spent their life savings to bring the landmark legal challenge.

The Court found that their right to private life does not require the state to
recognise their marriage. Further, the Court determined that the right to family life does
not extend to childless same-sex couples. Although the Court found that the couple had
been discriminated against in their right to marry their partner of choice, this
discrimination was justified to protect the traditional notion of marriage as a union
between a man and a woman primarily with the aim of producing children.

Sue Wilkinson said:

We are deeply disappointed by todays judgment  not just for
ourselves, but for same-sex couples nationwide. Denying the validity of our marriage
upholds discrimination and inequality. This judgment will not stand the test of time, and
we look forward to the day when there is full equality in marriage for same-sex
couples.

Liberty legal officer Joanne Sawyer said:

Celia and Sue have bravely taken the first step on the road to securing equal
marriage rights for same sex couples. I have no doubt that todays judgment will in
due course be viewed as being out of step with contemporary values.

Liberty Press Office: 020 7378 3656 or 07973 831 128

NOTES TO EDITORS
The Case

A British couple, Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson, who were legally married in
Vancouver in 2003, asked the court to recognise their marriage under section 55 of the
Family Law Act 1986.

For an overseas marriage to be recognised in the UK it must be shown that the marriage
was legal, recognised in the country in which it was executed, and that nothing in the
countrys law restricted their freedom to marry.

Celia and Sue argued that their marriage fulfils these requirements even though people
cannot legally enter into same-sex marriages in the UK.

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 (which came into force on 5 December 2005) allows same
sex couples new rights as civil partners. Despite having entered into a
marriage in Canada in 2003, the UK automatically deemed Celia and Sues marriage to
be a civil partnership as of December 2005.

Celia and Sue rejected the conversion of their marriage into a civil partnership,
believing it to be both symbolically and practically a lesser substitute. They asked the
court to recognise their overseas marriage in the same way that it would recognise that of
a heterosexual couple. Sue and Celia argued that any failure to recognise the validity of
their marriage constitutes a breach of their rights under Articles 8 (right to respect for
private and family life), 12 (right to marry) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination)
(taken together with Article 8 and/or 12) of the European Convention on Human Rights,
which is incorporated into domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998.

Liberty is assisting the couple in their legal challenge.

Sue Wilkinson is an academic psychologist, and holds the posts of Professor of Feminist
and Health Studies and Director of the Social Psychology degree programme at Loughborough
University.

Celia Kitzinger is a Professor at the Sociology Department at the University of York.

In a landmark case which will challenge the UK Governments policy on
same-sex marriage, a lesbian couple are seeking legal recognition of their Canadian
marriage.

The final hearing will begin in the Family Division of the High Court on Tuesday 6 June
2006 and a decision is anticipated in July.

The hearing will begin at 10.00am and there will be a photo opportunity beforehand from
9.15 - 9.30am at the front of the court.

The couple will be available for interviews, by arrangement, between 3pm and 5pm on
Monday 5 June.

The Case

A British couple, Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson, who were legally married in
Vancouver in 2003, are asking the court to recognise their marriage under section 55 of
the Family Law Act 1986.

For an overseas marriage to be recognised in the UK it must be shown that the marriage
was legal, recognised in the country in which it was executed, and that nothing in the
countrys law restricted their freedom to marry.

Celia and Sue will argue that their marriage fulfils these requirements even though
people cannot legally enter into same-sex marriages in the UK.

Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson said:

"Our case is fundamentally about equality. We simply want to be treated in the
same way as any heterosexual couple who marries abroad  to have our valid Canadian
marriage recognised as a marriage in our home country."

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 (which came into force on 5 December 2005) allows same
sex couples new rights as "civil partners." Despite having entered into a
marriage in Canada in 2003, the UK automatically deemed Celia and Sues marriage to
be a civil partnership as of December 2005.

Celia and Sue reject the conversion of their marriage into a civil partnership,
believing it to be both symbolically and practically a lesser substitute. They are asking
the court to recognise their overseas marriage in the same way that it would recognise
that of a heterosexual couple. They will argue that a failure to do so would constitute a
breach of their human rights to privacy and family life and their right to marry, and that
it is discriminatory on the basis of their sexuality.

Joanne Sawyer, Legal Officer at Liberty said:

"Sue and Celia are lawfully married in Canada. Downgrading their marriage to a
civil partnership, without their consent, maintains an artificial distinction between same
sex and opposite sex couples which is unsustainable in contemporary Britain."

Liberty Press Office: 0207 378 3656 or 07973 831 128

NOTES TO EDITORS

Liberty is assisting the couple in their legal challenge.

The Family Division of the High Court is at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London
WC2 A211.

Sue and Celia will argue that any failure to recognise the validity of their marriage
constitutes a breach of their rights under Articles 8 (right to respect for private and
family life), 12 (right to marry) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination) (taken together
with Article 8 and/or 12) of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is
incorporated into domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998.

Celia is a Professor at the Sociology Department at the University of York.

Sue is an academic psychologist, and holds the posts of Professor of Feminist and
Health Studies and Director of the Social Psychology degree programme at Loughborough
University.

In a case which threatens to
undermine the UK Governments stance on same sex marriage, a lesbian couple are
seeking legal recognition of their Canadian marriage.

Today, Wednesday 21 September 2005, the case will be considered in the Principal
Registry of the Family Division where the date for the trial will be set.

The hearing will begin at 10.30am and there will be a photo opportunity beforehand from
9.30-9.40am at the front of the court.

The couple will be available for interviews, by arrangement, between 3pm and 5pm.

The
CaseA British couple, Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson, who were legally
married in Vancouver in 2003, are asking the court to recognise their marriage under
section 55 of the Family Law Act 1986.

For an overseas marriage to be recognised in the UK it must be shown that the marriage
was legal, recognised in the country in which it was executed, and that nothing in the
countrys law restricted their freedom to marry.

Celia and Sue will argue that their marriage fulfils these requirements even though
people cannot legally enter into same sex marriages in the UK.

Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, which comes into effect in December 2005, same
sex couples will be able to register their partnership and receive many of the legal
benefits available to heterosexual married couples.

Celia and Sue reject civil partnership, believing it to be both symbolically and
practically a lesser substitute. They are asking the court to recognise their overseas
marriage in the same way that it would recognise that of a heterosexual couple. They will
argue that a failure to do so would constitute a breach of their human rights to privacy
and family life and their right to marry, and that it is discriminatory on the basis of
their sexuality.

Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson said:

This is fundamentally about equality. We want our marriage to be recognised as a
marriage - just like any other marriage made in Canada. It is insulting and discriminatory
to be offered a civil partnership instead. Civil partnerships are an important step
forward for same-sex couples, but they are not enough. We want full equality in
marriage.

James Welch, Legal Director at Liberty said:

Sue and Celia entered into a legal marriage in Canada. It is a matter of fairness
and equality that they should be treated in the same way as any other couple who marries
abroad: their marriage should be recognised here. They shouldn't have to settle for the
second-best option of a civil partnership.

Liberty
Press Office: 0207 378 3656 or 07973 831 128

Notes for editors:

Liberty is assisting the couple in their legal challenge.

The Principal Registry of the Family Division is at First Avenue House, 42-49 High
Holborn, London WC1V 6NP.

Sue and Celia will argue that any failure to recognise the validity of their marriage
constitutes a breach of their rights under Articles 8 (right to respect for private and
family life), 12 (right to marry) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination) (taken together
with Article 8 and/or 12) of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is
incorporated into domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998.

The case is expected to be heard in 2006.

Celia has been a Professor at the Sociology Department at the University of York since
2000, and is also a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the American
Psychological Association.

Sue is an academic psychologist, and holds the posts of Professor of Feminist and
Health Studies and Director of the Social Psychology degree programme at Loughborough
University. In a case which threatens to undermine the UK Governments stance on same
sex marriage, a lesbian couple are seeking legal recognition of their Canadian marriage.

Today, Wednesday 21 September 2005, the case will be considered in the Principal
Registry of the Family Division where the date for the trial will be set.

The hearing will begin at 10.30am and there will be a photo opportunity beforehand from
9.30-9.40am at the front of the court.

The couple will be available for interviews, by arrangement, between 3pm and 5pm.

The CaseA British couple, Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson, who were legally
married in Vancouver in 2003, are asking the court to recognise their marriage under
section 55 of the Family Law Act 1986.

For an overseas marriage to be recognised in the UK it must be shown that the marriage
was legal, recognised in the country in which it was executed, and that nothing in the
countrys law restricted their freedom to marry.

Celia and Sue will argue that their marriage fulfils these requirements even though
people cannot legally enter into same sex marriages in the UK.

Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, which comes into effect in December 2005, same
sex couples will be able to register their partnership and receive many of the legal
benefits available to heterosexual married couples.

Celia and Sue reject civil partnership, believing it to be both symbolically and
practically a lesser substitute. They are asking the court to recognise their overseas
marriage in the same way that it would recognise that of a heterosexual couple. They will
argue that a failure to do so would constitute a breach of their human rights to privacy
and family life and their right to marry, and that it is discriminatory on the basis of
their sexuality.

Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson said:

This is fundamentally about equality. We want our marriage to be recognised as a
marriage - just like any other marriage made in Canada. It is insulting and discriminatory
to be offered a civil partnership instead. Civil partnerships are an important step
forward for same-sex couples, but they are not enough. We want full equality in
marriage.

James Welch, Legal Director at Liberty said:

Sue and Celia entered into a legal marriage in Canada. It is a matter of fairness
and equality that they should be treated in the same way as any other couple who marries
abroad: their marriage should be recognised here. They shouldn't have to settle for the
second-best option of a civil partnership.

Liberty Press Office: 0207 378 3656 or 07973 831 128

Notes for editors:

Liberty is assisting the couple in their legal challenge.

The Principal Registry of the Family Division is at First Avenue House, 42-49 High
Holborn, London WC1V 6NP.

Sue and Celia will argue that any failure to recognise the validity of their marriage
constitutes a breach of their rights under Articles 8 (right to respect for private and
family life), 12 (right to marry) and 14 (prohibition of discrimination) (taken together
with Article 8 and/or 12) of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is
incorporated into domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998.

The case is expected to be heard in 2006.

Celia has been a Professor at the Sociology Department at the University of York since
2000, and is also a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and the American
Psychological Association.

Sue is an academic psychologist, and holds the posts of Professor of Feminist and
Health Studies and Director of the Social Psychology degree programme at Loughborough
University